February 08, 2010, 5:10AM

LAST WEEK the Legislature took a half-step forward and a full step back on the issue of employment standards for teachers. The House unanimously dispensed with the no-brainer question of whether teachers convicted of felonies or sex crimes should continue to receive pay and benefits. Full story »

February 04, 2010, 12:06PM

The bill was filed because of the case of Washington County teacher Charlene Schmitz. Schmitz was convicted of child enticement and continued to receive pay while serving a 10-year federal prison sentence. Full story »

January 27, 2010, 2:26PM

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Alabama Department of Education has stopped the pay of a Washington County teacher who was still getting her salary while locked up in federal prison serving a 10-year sentence for child enticement. Full story »

October 09, 2009, 7:30AM

Charlene Schmitz, a teacher at Leroy High School, was convicted in February 2008 of trying to entice one of her former students for sex. The school system moved to fire her in May of that year, but Schmitz, who is serving a sentence of 10 years and one month, appealed for her job. Under the state's Fair Dismissal Act, her employment hearing cannot take place until the courts resolve her criminal appeals. She has stayed on the payroll, collecting a $51,666 annual salary. Full story »

August 07, 2009, 1:22PM

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Alabama State Department of Education has taken the first step in trying to revoke the certification of a convicted teacher who continues to draw her salary while in federal prison. Full story »

June 11, 2009, 9:56PM

If convicted sex offender Charlene Schmitz manages to stave off termination from her Washington County teaching job for another 2 1/2 years, she will be able to retire with pension benefits for life, according to officials with the state pension plan. Full story »

June 02, 2008, 4:01PM

A Washington County teacher convicted of luring a former student for sex will go to prison for 10 years and a month -- one month more than the mandatory minimum -- a federal judge in Mobile ruled today. Full story »